You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor

Posted on Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 10:58 a.m.

Washtenaw: 5th healthiest county in Michigan

By Paula Gardner

A new national report ranking U.S. counties based on health factors says Washtenaw County is the 5th healthiest county in Michigan.

Livingston County came in at number 4, behind Leelanau, Ottawa and Clinton counties.

The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report was published this week by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

It ranks counties on criteria like the rate of people dying before age 75, high school graduation rates, access to healthier foods, air pollution levels, income and rates of smoking, obesity and teen births, according to its website.

Washtenaw County outperformed Michigan's average in all categories except air pollution-ozone days and access to healthy foods.

Wayne County ranked 81 out of 82 counties in Michigan, just ahead of Ontonagon. Keweenaw County was not rated.

Comments

BhavanaJagat

Thu, Apr 5, 2012 : 1:14 a.m.

HEALTH AND BEHAVIOR : I am glad to read about these results and it appears that there is better understanding of behavior and its relationship to health. I would prefer to include several other aspects of behavior apart from that of smoking and eating. I define the term health as the complete, physical, mental, social, moral, and spiritual well-being of man and hence it calls for studying the impact of behaviors such as drug use, violent behavior, criminal behavior, and antisocial behavior on the incidence of mortality and morbidity. Some of these behaviors which are characterized by the absence of Peace, Harmony, and Tranquility within the individual and in his external relations could be named as 'Spiritual Sickness' and are concerned with the spiritual well-being of man.

Dog Guy

Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 6:04 p.m.

&quot;Washtenaw County outperformed Michigan's average in all categories except air pollution-ozone days and access to healthy foods.&quot; As for the first, Ann Arbor's very high Prius concentration increases the already horrendous smug level. As for the second, Ann Arborites refuse to buy local produce--witness again the imported vehicles.

clownfish

Wed, Apr 4, 2012 : 12:40 p.m.

What vehicles are built in Washtenaw County?

Brian Kuehn

Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 8:32 p.m.

Ha! I like it. Thanks.

Washtenaw County Public Health

Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 6:02 p.m.

The County Health Rankings report actually has two sets of rankings - one for Health Outcomes (morbidity/mortality - ie, death and illness), and one for Health Factors, which influence the outcomes. The Health Factors include health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic resources, and the physical environment.
Washtenaw County ranked 5th in Health Outcomes, and 1st in Health Factors.
For more complete information on the health of our community, including more local data, please see the Washtenaw County Public Health Department's website at http://publichealth.ewashtenaw.org.